Burial Rites

This dark novel, set in northern Iceland in 1829, was shortlisted for The Guardian First Book Award. Based on actual events, it follows the story of Agnes Magnusdottir, who is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover. Kent portrays Iceland’s formidable landscape, in which every day is a battle for survival, and asks, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends on the stories told by others?